Best performers from the Malmo vs Riga regular season match-ups

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The VHL playoffs are underway, and for the Malmo Nighthawks, they are looking to win their first playoff series with their current core roster. It is their fourth straight season making the playoffs, and they have just three playoff wins in the the prior three. They will be taking on a new opponent, as the Riga Reign were the third seed to Malmo's number two. Their three previous losses have all been to teams that finished the regular season lower than them, just as Riga did this season. One difference, however, is that the Nighthawks had a losing record to the Reign. When they lost to Helsinki, London, and Moscow in the prior three seasons, they had winning regular season records against each of them.

 

The games between Malmo and Riga were close, mostly. Four of the games were won by a single goal, while Malmo had a 5-2 win. Four of the games took place in the final third of the season, and the lone early game, a Malmo win, happened before Riga's roster had become what it is today. I am taking a look at some of the best performers in the match-ups between these two teams.

 

Malmo Nighthawks best performers

@comrade cat @DarkSpyro

For the Nighthawks, the best performers were Ash Sparks and Savaisk Tzesar. Tzesar, who should be in the discussion for the Boulet Trophy this season, put his two-way play on display against the Reign. In the five games, Tzesar had four goals and 27 hits. The Nighthawk netminder Ash Sparks continued to defy expectations as he was one of the best this season, and Riga made him work. Sparks allowed 12 goals in total while facing over 40 shots-per-game. He gave Malmo a chance in ever game, with a 0.941 save percentage overall against the Reign.

 

Riga Reign best performers

@Lemorse7 @Alex

Sparks' Riga counterpart, Red Panda, also did well in the match-ups between these two teams. Panda had a 0.934 save percentage on the 36.2 shots-per-game. It was defender Skor McFleury, however, who really carried Riga against the Nighthawks. Playing for his fifth team in five seasons, McFleury has had another incredible year. He set a new personal best in goals scored, topping his previous best by ten. His goal-scoring ability was on display against the Nighthawks, as he scored five of Riga's goals, while also assisting on three others.

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This should be a fun series!  I can’t wait to see how it goes, definitely interesting that the season series was close!